World Cup: Brazil's ugly loss to Germany leaves host fans in tears

The tears started flowing before halftime, and by the end of a 7-1 shellacking in the World Cup semifinal, millions across Brazil were in dazed, damp-eyed disbelief.

The national team wasn't just defeated by a powerful German team. It was routed in front of the entire world, humiliated at its own party many expected would culminate with a sixth Cup title. Young and old, Brazilians shared in the anguish of what many called a national calamity -- the worst loss in their team's storied World Cup history.

"I couldn't believe my eyes! It was like the game was on replay," said Valeria Mazure, a 67-year-old retired teacher. "I'm feeling disappointed, sad, but more than anything I'm feeling embarrassed. It was embarrassing to watch."

So much so, some of the fans who were in the stadium where the massacre played out in excruciating fashion simply exited at halftime, some tearing up there tickets and giving the thumbs down to TV cameras.

With Brazil tossed out of its own World Cup in such rough fashion, "you are going to have the most depressed country ever," fan Pablo Ramoz said.

A widely shared "photo" on Twitter portrayed German President Angela Merkel, arms raised in victory, standing atop the mountain overlooking Rio, replacing the iconic Christ. Other memes were hitting social networks at a fast clip, perhaps as quickly as Germany's first-half goals.

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"Watching the Brazil team play in earlier matches, I thought there was a possibility that Brazil could lose -- but I never imagined it could lose so terribly," said Ricardo In Sao Paulo, Brazil's biggest city, thousands gathered to watch the match in the Bohemian neighborhood of Vila Madalena, the streets carpeted with yellow, green and blue -- the colors of the Brazilian flag.

Samir Kelvin clung to a street pole and loudly cried: "I have nothing left! I am Brazilian and humiliated I want to kill myself!"

A woman shouted "What shame, what shame!" as a man nearby banged his head against a bar table.

Semifinal II: Dutch captain and all-time top scorer Robin van Persie is in doubt for Wednesday's semifinal against Argentina after succumbing to a stomach problem.

Van Persie trained separately on Tuesday with defender Daryl Janmaat and coach Louis van Gaal said both were suffering "stomach and intestinal problems."

Van Gaal said he would not rush into deciding whether Van Persie is fit to play against the Lionel Messi-led Argentina.

Scoring king: In the midst of Germany's record-setting victory over Brazil, Miroslav Klose became the tournament's all-time record scorer -- surpassing Brazil great Ronaldo.

Klose scored Germany's second goal in the 23rd minute, giving him 16 career World Cup goals. It broke the mark of 15 goals he shared with the retired Ronaldo, who worked the game as a TV commentator. Klose, 36, is playing in his fourth World Cup. He was the top scorer and Golden Boot winner at the 2006 World Cup in Germany with five goals. Klose also scored five goals in his first World Cup, in 2002. He scored four at South Africa in 2010.